Chicago, Ill – After a whirlwind of campaigning from churches to voter lines that took her all over key swing states, California Attorney General Kamala Harris – one of the country’s rising star Democrats — is back in the Windy City and preparing for tonight’s big gathering with her old friend, Barack Obama.
Harris was here four years ago for Obama’s historic win, and went on the road in the last weeks to push for his presidential campaign across the country. But she said of all the work she’s done and folks she’s talked to on the campaign trail, she was most moved by the early voters who turned out in states like Ohio, determined to cast ballots.

“I can’t even tell you the places I’ve been,” said Harris in an interview Tuesday with the Chronicle. “I did the churches in Ohio Sunday…and it was about encouraging these people who were in line to vote, to stay in line.”

“There were hundreds of people, it was an incredible sight, people patriently standing in line with their kids in the cold,” she recalls. “I would walk the line and say, “The decision you’re making today will impact my constituents in California.”

“In Cincinnati last night, I went to last person in line for early voting,” Harris said, “and I said, “Hey, sister, stay in line. Do not give up. You are making history here.”

“There was one woman who was 18 and homeless, standing there for her first time, voting,” she said. “She felt it was that important.”

Harris said the Democrats’ fight against voter surpression in the 2012 election will be remembered — and should be remembered — as part of a continual struggle.

“Coretta Scott King used to say the fight for civil rights must be foght and won with every generation,” she said. “We have to keep fighting and be vigilant. Andand don’t be overwhelmeled and discouraged and dispirited….we have to always be vigilant.”

So how’s it looking to Harris, who has spent so much time on the ground and the front lines of the campaign in the last weeks?

“I’m very optimistic,” she said. “Nothing can, or should it be taken for granted. It’s been a rough campaign. And it’s been rough on the candidates — and on Americans.”

“I”m certainly looking forward to it being over,” she said. “And as the issues are discussed, it will be about how to fix the problems.”